Editing Red Balloon

{{about|the extra-life granting balloons from the [[Donkey Kong Country (series)|Donkey Kong Country]] and [[Donkey Kong Land (series)|Donkey Kong Land]] series|the object from [[Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island]]|[[red balloon (object)]]}}
{{item infobox
|image=[[File:Red Balloon - Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze.png|150px]]<br>Artwork from ''Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze''
|description="''Grants an extra life.''"
|first_appearance=''[[Donkey Kong Country]]'' ([[List of games by date#1994|1994]])
|latest_appearance=''[[Donkey Kong Country Returns HD]]'' ([[List of games by date#2025|2025]])
}}
{{quote|Nothin' like classic red for righteous revivals!|[[Funky Kong]]|[[Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze]]}}
'''Red Balloons''',<ref>{{cite|quote=Extra Life Balloons come in three great flavors. Red Balloons give you one extra life, Green Balloons give you two and the elusive Blue Balloons give you three extra lives!|author=Owsen, Dan, Kent Miller, and Paul Shinoda|title=''Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!'' Player's Guide|page=15|language=en-us|publisher=Nintendo of America|date=1996}}</ref><ref>{{cite|language=en-us|date=2010|title=''Donkey Kong Country Returns'' instruction booklet|page=19|url=www.nintendo.com/consumer/gameslist/manuals/Wii_DKC_Returns.pdf|publisher=Nintendo of America}}</ref><ref>{{cite|language=en-us|publisher=Nintendo of America|date=2014|url=cdn02.nintendo-europe.com/media/downloads/games_8/emanuals/wii_u_6/donkey_kong_country__tropical_freeze/ElectronicManual_WiiU_DonkeyKongCountryTropicalFreeze_EN.pdf|title=''Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze'' Wii U instruction manual. Tab 17: "Items"|format=PDF}}</ref> also known as '''Life Balloons''',<ref>{{cite|date=1994|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=en-us|title=''Donkey Kong Country'' instruction booklet|page=9}}</ref> '''1-Up Balloons''',<ref>{{cite|language=en-us|publisher=Nintendo of America|date=1994|title=''Donkey Kong Country'' Player's Guide|page=28, 29, 32, 35, 65, 71, 107, 109}}</ref> or simply '''Balloons''',<ref name=DKC>{{cite|date=1994|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=en-us|title=''Donkey Kong Country'' instruction booklet|page=18}}</ref><ref>{{cite|date=2010|language=en-gb|publisher=Nintendo of Europe|title=''Donkey Kong Country Returns'' instruction booklet|page=24|url=m1.nintendo.net/docvc/RVL/EUR/SF8P/SF8P_E.pdf}}</ref> are recurring items that grant [[Extra life|extra lives]] to the [[Kong]]s in the [[Donkey Kong Country (series)|''Donkey Kong Country'' series]] and [[Donkey Kong Land (series)|''Donkey Kong Land'' series]].

==History==
===''Donkey Kong'' franchise===
====''Donkey Kong Country'' trilogy====
In the original ''Donkey Kong Country'' trilogy, the Red Balloons give only one more life. The less frequent [[Green Balloon]]s and [[Blue Balloon]]s provide two and three extra lives, respectively, and the three variants are collectively referred to as '''Donkey Kong Balloons''',<ref name=DKC/> '''1-up Balloons''',<ref>{{cite|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=en-us|date=November 1996|title=''[[Nintendo Power]]'' volume 90|page=26}}</ref> or '''Extra Life Balloons'''<ref>{{cite|date=1995|language=en-us|publisher=Nintendo of America|title=''Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest'' instruction booklet|page={{file link|DKC2 Manual 16-17.jpg|17}}}}</ref><ref>{{cite|date=2005|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=en-us|title=''Donkey Kong Country 3'' (Game Boy Advance) instruction booklet|page=27}}</ref> (also spelled '''Extra-Life Balloons'''<ref>{{cite|date=1996|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=en-us|title=''Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!'' instruction booklet|page=23}}</ref><ref>{{cite|date=2004|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=en-us|title=''Donkey Kong Country 2'' (Game Boy Advance) instruction booklet|page=15}}</ref> or '''extra lives balloons'''<ref>{{cite|quote=What is an extra lives balloon colored red worth?''|author=[[Swanky's Bonus Bonanza]]|title=''Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest''}}</ref>). When an Extra Life Balloon is collected, it floats to the life counter in the upper right corner of the screen. If the Kongs lose a life, the life counter appears onscreen, and its balloon icon pops and decreases by one.

Extra Life Balloons first appear in ''[[Donkey Kong Country]]'', where they are in the shape of [[Donkey Kong]]'s head. An Extra Life Balloon is often rewarded for completing a [[bonus room|Bonus Area]], but a few appear in the [[level]] itself, such as on the treetops of [[Jungle Hijinxs (Donkey Kong Country)|Jungle Hijinxs]]. They can also be rarely found when certain areas are [[Hand Slap|hand-slap]]ped (in place of [[Banana Bunch]]es). Some Extra Life Balloons float up in the air and must be quickly collected before floating offscreen.

In ''[[Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest]]'', the Extra Life Balloons are changed into the shape of [[Diddy Kong]]'s head, likely owing to him as the new main protagonist. Extra Life Balloons rarely appear within Bonus Areas, which feature [[Kremkoin]]s as the main reward instead. The main method for obtaining Extra Life Balloons is by completing the quizzes at [[Swanky's Bonus Bonanza]], where the type of Life Balloon rewarded corresponds to the number of [[Banana Coin]]s the Kongs must pay to participate in a quiz. Some of the hints at [[Kong Kollege]] and the [[Monkey Museum]] provide hints on where the Kongs can find an Extra Life Balloon within a level. Some [[No Animal Sign]]s reward an Extra Life Balloon if the Kongs cross with an [[Animal Friends|Animal Friend]]. Red Extra Life Balloons can also be found as one of the possible prizes on some [[End of Level Target]]s. A few of the later levels feature black [[Klobber]]s, who cause Diddy and [[Dixie Kong]] to lose an Extra Life Balloon whenever it bumps into them. As the Extra Life Balloon(s) float(s) upward, the Kongs have a few seconds to recollect the Extra Life Balloon(s) before it/they disappear.

In ''[[Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!]]'', Extra Life Balloons have the same main purpose as in the previous two games, and their overall role is more similar to that of ''Donkey Kong Country 2''. In the game, Extra Life Balloons are redesigned in the shape of the head of Dixie, the main protagonist of the game. Like in ''Donkey Kong Country 2'', some No Animal Signs still reward an Extra Life Balloon to the Kongs if they pass the signs as an Animal Friend or with [[Parry (character)|Parry the Parallel Bird]]. In one instance in [[Rocket Barrel Ride]], if Dixie and [[Kiddy Kong|Kiddy]] pass the No Animal Sign with Parry, they are rewarded with a blue Extra Life Balloon. At [[Swanky's Sideshow]], [[Swanky Kong]] may reward an Extra Life Balloon, among other items, to Dixie and Kiddy if they perform well against [[Cranky Kong]].

====''Donkey Kong Land'' series====
In the ''Donkey Kong Land'' trilogy, every Extra Life Balloon<ref>{{cite|title=''Donkey Kong Land 2'' instruction booklet|page=5|date=1996|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{cite|date=1997|title=''Donkey Kong Land III'' instruction booklet|page=17|language=en-us|publisher=Nintendo of America}}</ref> grants only one life, and the balloons represent the Red Balloons from the ''Donkey Kong Country'' games. The monochromatic [[Game Boy]] screen cannot distinguish between the differently colored Extra Life Balloons. When the active Kong obtains an Extra Life Balloon, a Life Heart<ref>{{cite|date=1996|language=en-us|publisher=Nintendo of America|title=''Donkey Kong Land 2'' instruction booklet|page=13}}</ref><ref>{{cite|date=1997|title=''Donkey Kong Land III'' instruction booklet|page=7|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=en-us}}</ref> (which represents an extra life) appears on the HUD at the bottom.

In ''[[Donkey Kong Land]]'' and ''[[Donkey Kong Land 2]]'', the Extra Life Balloons have the same shape as their ''Donkey Kong Country'' counterparts. In ''[[Donkey Kong Land III]]'', which recycles many of its sprites directly from ''Donkey Kong Land 2'', the Life Balloons are still in the shape of Diddy's head despite him not appearing in the game. In the [[Game Boy Color]] port of ''Donkey Kong Land III'', the Extra Life Balloon sprites are red, which affirms them representing Red Balloons.

====''Donkey Kong Country Returns'' / ''Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D''====
In ''[[Donkey Kong Country Returns]]'' and ''[[Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D]]'', Red Balloons are redesigned with the appearance of a normal balloon. Red Balloons are the only Balloons that return in the [[Wii]] version. In the [[Nintendo 3DS]] version, a Green Balloon can be bought from [[Cranky Kong's Shop]] in every [[world]], allowing the Kongs to recover from a pitfall without losing a life.

If Donkey Kong loses a life, he is shown floating from a Balloon out of the top of the screen; during this, the life counter displays in the center and decreases by one life. In single-player mode, after this occurs, Donkey Kong floats back to the level while holding on to a Balloon. He returns either to the start or to a [[checkpoint]], based on his level progress. Once he reaches the ground or the player presses a button, the Balloon pops, and Donkey Kong can continue moving through the level.

In two-player mode, both players share their extra lives. If either player loses a life, they can float back onscreen in a [[DK Barrel]] hanging from a Balloon after pressing {{button|wii|A}} if the [[Wii#Wii Remote|Wii Remote]] is held sideways, or {{button|wii|1}} if the [[Wii#Nunchuk|Nunchuk]] is attached to the remote. This is similar to how players float around in [[bubble]]s in ''[[New Super Mario Bros. Wii]]''. If both Kongs simultaneously lose a life, often from falling down a [[pit]], they lose two lives in total. Like in single-player mode, if both Kongs lose a life or if one of them loses a life while the other is missing, they must restart the level or from the last checkpoint.

The Kongs can purchase some Life Balloons via Cranky Kong's Shop in groups of either one, three, or seven (priced at 3, 7, and 15 [[Banana Coin]]s, respectively). If the player selects a save file where the Kongs are low on lives, Cranky provides them with some extra balloons. There are also three balloons (one red, one yellow, and one blue) on the roof of Cranky Kong's Shop, the latter two of which do not have an in-game role.

====''Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze''====
In ''[[Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze]]'' and [[Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (Nintendo Switch)|its Nintendo Switch port]], Red Balloons act the same as in its predecessor. However, [[Funky's Fly 'n' Buy]] sells only single life-giving Red Balloons. Performing a [[Kong POW]] with Diddy also turns all onscreen enemies into Red Balloons. Green Balloons also return from the prior game's 3DS remake. Blue Balloons appear as well, now giving the Kongs more air underwater.

===''Super Mario-kun''===
[[File:Life Balloon SMKun.png|thumb|75px]]
An Extra Life Balloon makes a small appearance in ''[[Super Mario-kun]]''. After the [[Krash]]es make [[Mario]] and [[Yoshi]] fall from the tracks during a minecart stage, an Extra Life Balloon saves them and brings them back on the stage.
{{br}}

==Profiles==
===''Donkey Kong Country''===
*'''Wii U Virtual Console manual bio:''' ''"Collect to get an extra life."''

===''Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest''===
*'''Wii U Virtual Console manual bio:''' ''"There are three differently colored Extra Life Balloons. The different colors are worth different numbers of lives."''

==Gallery==
{{Main-gallery}}
<gallery>
Extra Life Balloons DKC art.jpg|''[[Donkey Kong Country]]''
Extra Life Balloons DKC2 artwork.jpg|''[[Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest]]''
DKC2Balloon.png|''Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest''
ExtraLifeBalloon DKC3.png|''[[Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!]]''
Red Balloon DKC SNES.png|''[[Donkey Kong Country]]''
Extra Life Balloon DKL.png|''[[Donkey Kong Land]]''
Red Extra Life Balloon DKC2.png|''[[Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest]]''
</gallery>

==Names in other languages==
{{foreign names
|Jpn=ライフバルーン<ref>''Super Donkey Kong'' intruction booklet, page 11.</ref>
|JpnR=Raifu Barūn
|JpnM=Life Balloon
|Jpn2=バルーン
|Jpn2R=Barūn
|Jpn2M=Balloon
|Ita=Pallone della vita<ref>{{cite|title=''[[Donkey Kong Country]]'' Italian booklet|page=9}}</ref>
|Ita2=Pallone rosso<ref>{{cite|title=''[[Donkey Kong Country]]'' Italian booklet|page=18}}</ref><ref>{{cite|title=''[[Donkey Kong Country (Game Boy Color)|Donkey Kong Country]]'' (GBC); European booklet|page=110|language=it|publisher=Nintendo of Europe|date=2000}}</ref><ref>{{cite|title=''[[Donkey Kong Country (Game Boy Advance)|Donkey Kong Country]]'' (GBA); European booklet|page=101|date=2003|publisher=Nintendo of Europe|language=it}}</ref>
|Ita3=Pallone vita extra<ref>{{cite|title=''[[Donkey Kong Land 2]]'' Italian manual|page=15}}</ref>
|Ita4=Pallone di vita extra<ref>{{cite|title=''[[Donkey Kong Land III]]'' Spanish-Italian booklet|page=47}}</ref>
|Ita5=Pallone<ref>{{cite|title=''[[Donkey Kong Country (Game Boy Color)|Donkey Kong Country]]'' (GBC); European booklet|page=110}}</ref>
|Ita6=Pallone Vita<ref>{{cite|title=''[[Donkey Kong Country (Game Boy Advance)|Donkey Kong Country]]'' (GBA); European booklet|page=101|date=2003|publisher=Nintendo of Europe|language=it}}</ref>
|Ita7=Palloncino vita extra<ref>{{cite|date=2004|language=it|publisher=Nintendo of Europe|title=''[[Donkey Kong Country 2 (Game Boy Advance)|Donkey Kong Country 2]]'' European booklet|page=113}}</ref>
|Ita8=Palloncino<ref>{{cite|title=''[[Donkey Kong Country Returns]]'' Italian booklet|page=24}}</ref>
|Ita9=Palloncino rosso (recent games)
|ItaM=Life balloon
|Ita2M=Red balloon
|Ita3M=Extra life balloon
|Ita4M=Balloon of extra life
|Ita5M=Balloon
|Ita6M=Life balloon
|Ita7M=Extra life balloon
|Ita8M=Balloon
|Ita9M=Red balloon
}}
;Life Heart
{{foreign names
|Ita=Cuore vita<ref>{{cite|title=''[[Donkey Kong Land 2]]'' Italian manual|page=7}}</ref>
|Itam=Life heart
}}

==Trivia==
*Dixie Kong's Extra Life Balloons from ''Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!'' are the only ones where the eyes are visibly white, as opposed to colored over like Donkey Kong's and Diddy Kong's Extra Life Balloons from ''Donkey Kong Country'' and ''Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest'', respectively. This does not apply for the [[Game Boy Advance]] remake, however.
*For the icons with the remaining lives in the upper right-hand corner of the game screen in each of the first three games, Donkey Kong's in ''Donkey Kong Country'' is shaped like an Extra Life Balloon but in his real colors and animated. However, Diddy Kong's and Dixie Kong's icons in ''Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest'' and ''Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!'', respectively, are simply heads and are non-animated.
*Even though Dixie Kong's Extra Life Balloons lack her trademark ponytail, her icon displaying the number of lives has her ponytail.

==References==
<references/>

{{DKC}}
{{DKL}}
{{DKC2}}
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{{DKC3}}
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[[Category:Balloons]]
[[Category:Collectibles]]
[[Category:Donkey Kong items]]
[[Category:Donkey Kong Country items]]
[[Category:Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest items]]
[[Category:Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! items]]
[[Category:Donkey Kong Country Returns items]]
[[Category:Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze items]]
[[Category:Donkey Kong Land items]]
[[Category:Donkey Kong Land 2 items]]
[[Category:Donkey Kong Land III items]]
[[Category:LEGO Super Mario objects]]
[[de:Extraleben-Ballon]]